Introduction

Our world is getting smaller with the accessibility of technology and the actions of information professionals actively connecting and forming intercultural relationships. As Iranian American engineer Anousheh Ansari said, “If people can see Earth from up here, see it without those borders, see it without any differences in race or religion, they would have a completely different perspective. Because when you see the Earth from that angle, you cannot think of your home or your country. All you can see is one Earth” this is how librarians see the information world. It is one world, one community and libraries act as the bridges and connections between silos, finding common ground, discovering and learning together.  

Statement of Competency

Understanding global librarianship and how information organizations affect cultural, economic, educational and social well-being world wide can feel like a daunting task, but at its core this competency is about connection and shared humanity. Below are five pieces of evidence that I feel exemplify my understanding of this competency: In INFO 287 Hyperlinked Libraries, I created a global trend inspiration report on libraries around the world implementing “third place” and “hygge” concepts for the common goal of connection, education and social well-being purposes. In a blog post for the same course I explored global communities and global librarianship and how participation is now a choice anyone in the information world can choose to embrace. In another blog post I explored the art of storytelling as a technique libraries around the world utilize to broaden cultural and economic perspectives within their communities and promote global perspectives. In INFO 202 my group and I evaluated a New Zealand public library website for common cultural and educational goals along with universal usability trends. Finally, in INFO 200 I explored how libraries and information organizations are the facilitators and connections between global information community needs and the information and resources that could help users find the information, resources and guidance required. In exploring how libraries can best serve their communities, I evaluated context and pressures surrounding cultural, economic, educational and social differences and how one might approach all information service with a humanistic service mentality. I believe that the skills and knowledge gained from these courses has empowered me to approach future work situations with this same humanistic and empathetic mentality. 

Theory

Global Perspective & Cultural Awareness 

We are all global citizens, with a responsibility for the whole world and the communities within it. While this can seem daunting and overwhelming, it is also as simple as helping and connecting with the people around me and recognizing that their upbringing and perspectives might be totally different from my own, but worth knowing and exploring. A global perspective means understanding cultural context and external unseen social and emotional pressures.  It means being sensitive to the varying needs and communication styles of others. Libraries have an amazing opportunity to develop spaces that are designed for safe, secure community connection where all are free to learn and grow. As Smith says, “Creating an ambience that makes people feel welcome, comfortable, and capable is part of creating a learning environment (Smith, 2018. p102).” Many libraries around the world are embracing service models of hospitality, where their spaces are designed to be welcoming and engaging so that anyone and everyone can feel seen and understood (Smith, 2018). From New Zealand's Auckland University of Technology, to and Dokk1’s Library in Aarhus Denmark, to Scotland’s University of Aberdeen, to Finland and America, many libraries are embracing a belief in hospitality to break down cultural and social barriers and encourage shared cultural awareness and global perspectives. Only through these safe humanistic communications and connections can we break down barriers and work towards building a collaborative global community.  

Sustainability of Libraries Around the World & Best Practices

Our global information economy is booming, we live in a digital age where the internet can instantly connect us across the entire globe. In addition, access to the technology that connects us is becoming more and more prevalent. Interrelated economies and partnerships between nations is becoming a necessity for our continued growth (Albright, 2018). Libraries can help provide access to resources on a global scale, reducing economic and social barriers and allowing many to participate in the global discussion of access to information from a human rights, social justice perspective (Hamilton, 2004). To have a sustainable future we must work together with an understanding that each nation will have different challenges to overcome and require different skills to tackle those challenges. For some countries their own governments or politics might throttle information, for others there might be connectivity issues, and for others it might be a lack of digital literacy skills or a need for LIS leadership to train and guide. While metadata and some tech standards are now being shared universally, when it comes to much of the information world, understanding and working with cultural and social context will be key to a successful global information economy (Albright, 2018). The Advisory Committee on Freedom of Access to Information and Freedom of Expression is at the heart of the International Federation of Library Association’s efforts and with their standards in mind I believe access to information is a human right and the best practice is to create shared understanding and cultivate human connections in order to share information, and be open to venues of communication and collaboration (IFLA, n.d.). Multiculturalism is a defining aspect of diversity equity and inclusion and requires that we recognize and celebrate our differences with a cross-cultural dialog and incorporate these modalities into our library services and daily personal lives (Wong et. al., 2018).

Conclusion 

Information professionals must all work together as one, celebrating our differences, and with a shared humanity to work towards a sustainable future. Libraries are the perfect facilitators of the global  information economy and poised to encourage connections while promoting services and spaces for all. We are all citizens of this world, and we must work together for the best version of it.  

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